Are you looking for professional support and a strong peer network to help you finish your book or refine your first draft? If you're working on a first draft or a draft that just isn't working, Writers SA's First Draft program can help you shape your novel and stay on track.

Fortnightly in-person** group meetings starting Wednesday May 31, access to quarterly workshops, feedback and consultations, and group support will get you another step closer to completing your novel by the end of the year. Facilitator Bronwyn Tilley (writing as Bronwyn Stuart) will also offer expert advice in the way of characterisation, plot, setting, dialogue and so much more!

This program is best suited to writers working on longer-form pieces of fiction in any genre and/or memoir.

Monthly meetings will cover:

• What might be stopping you or your story.
  • Introductions of participants and their work.
  • Open discussion about publishing options of projects and writing with the audience in mind.
• Characterisation. 
  • Cardboard characters fall flat on the page. Learn how to make them 3D so they are believable and relatable even in non-fiction and memoir  
• Goal, Motivation, Conflict.
  • Two dogs, one bone. How did the dogs get there, who are the dogs, why do they want the bone, why can’t they have the bone?
• Bring your setting to life so it becomes more like another character element in your book (through writing exercises).
• Dialogue.
• Publishing potential and options.

The 2023 second edition program includes: 

• 8 fortnightly group meetings (dates are below)
• Access to a wide selection of workshops with 6 credits to use across our online and in person events. (T&Cs apply)
• One in-depth consultation about your writing project with a Writers SA staff member
• An expert critical reading of your first three chapters plus one page of feedback
• One Work Space writing intensive day
• Access to a private online space to share work and ideas with your peers

Meeting dates: 5:30 to 6:30pm Wednesday May 31, June 14, 28, July 12, 26, August 9, 23 and September 6.

About Bronwyn Tilley

Bronwyn Tilley is a published author of eighteen commercial fiction novels and novellas writing as Bronwyn Stuart (both traditionally and self-published). She has had both feet planted firmly in the publishing industry for more than sixteen years and has a wealth of knowledge and background about what readers want and what sells in today's international and Australian markets. She has previously been represented by a major New York literary agency, is an avid reader and spent a number of years as event manager and committee member for Romance Writers of Australia.

She is now the Operations manager for Writers SA and lives in the Adelaide Hills with her family and domesticated menagerie.

Venue: Meeting Rooms 1 & 2, City Library, Rundle Mall, Adelaide

Members $890 / Non-members $1390

—Writers SA members must be logged in to receive the member discount.

—If you are a member of another state based writers centre or a member of SCBWI SA, please contact [email protected] at least five working days before the program commencement date to get a code for the member price.

—Payment plans can be negotiated with a $300 deposit and $10 admin fee by emailing [email protected]

Program Terms and Conditions

- The six workshops refer to both digital and in-person sessions and include: three 1.5-hour workshops, two 3-hour workshops and one 6-hour workshop. The workshops may be selected of your choice or by recommendation from Writers SA. You must use these credits in 2023. Outstanding credits will not be held over. These cannot be exchanged for any other service or refunded. There will be a maximum of two credit-holders at each event until a minimum number of paid participants is reached and will be on a first-come-first-served basis after emailing [email protected] to lodge your request. If the workshop is at capacity for credit-holders, you can opt to pay for the workshop or join a wait-list until the event reaches the minimum number of paid participants.

- Participation in this series does not guarantee publication.

- In depth consultations and First Feedback will be carried out by a relevant staff member of Writers SA (excluding December and January) and must be submitted by March 2024 or forfeited.

**all meetings are anticipated as in-person and will not be recorded. Email [email protected] to discuss further if you think in-person attendance could be an issue for you.